With the seeding of Fuso eCanter electric light-duty truck already in progress in India, it will be offered in the market under the BharatBenz brand name rather than the Fuso brand name, claim industry sources with the knowledge of the development. 

Drawing attention to the launch of eCanter under the Fuso brand name in Indonesia, they mention that Daimler India Commercial Vehicles' (DICV) first electric truck in the country will offered with a GVW of 4.25 tonne. 

The commercial launch of the vehicle expected to take place ahead of the upcoming festive season, the e-truck is being worked upon in terms of its marketing position vis a vis what the competition would soon follow up with and in terms of what the market requirements are. 

With the electric commercial vehicle market on the truck side moving up to light four-wheel trucks, albeit in the GVW range of up to 1.7 to two tonne as of now, the eCanter at 4.25 tonne GVW should make it a good candidate for mid and last-mile deliveries in the e-commerce, parcel and other application areas. 

While it will be clear once DICV chooses to commercially introduce the eCanter under the BharatBenz brand as to what its strategy is, it is no secret that the company makes four Daimler Truck brands – Fuso, BharatBenz, Mercedes Benz and Freightliner – at its Oragadam plant on the outskirts of Chennai. 

In fact, it is the heavy-duty trucks made and exported from the Oragadam plant that has expanded the Fuso brand portfolio in Far East Asian markets where buyers always perceived the truck brand as the one offering light-duty trucks only. 

To be a part of the 14 new commercial vehicles DICV will launch in 2024, the eCanter is a reflection of Daimler Truck's commitment to the Paris Climate Protection Agreement and also its pioneering efforts in the field of modern transportation. 

With growing demand for CO₂-neutral transportation and a clear understanding of safety, the eCanter – which world premiered in Japan and Europe in the second half of 2022 – is being offered in four configurations (4.25-tonne, six-tonne, 7.5-tonne and 8.5-tonne) and two battery packs – S and M. This is in the markets outside of India as of current. 

The S battery pack is of 39/41 kWh capacity and supports a range of 70 km. The M battery pack is of 78/82 kWh and supports a range of 140 km. 

Available in a single cab form for applications such as city distribution (last-mile delivery), the eCanter is available in three wheelbase options – 2,500 mm, 2,800 mm and 3,400 mm. 

If DICV will offer more than one configuration of eCanter in India is not yet clear. The feedback of the seeding is expected to help to decide on such and other parameters. It is possible that DICV will offer the lightest 4.25 tonne configuration at the beginning and follow up with the other two configurations when it confident that the technology and vehicle are well received by the market.  

Efforts to localise the model are being made as part of DICV's strategy from the time it entered the India truck market in 2012, the sources informed.  

While the initial push is expected to be towards institutional buyers, a robust leasing mechanism could get the eCanter is the scope of retail customers as well. As of now, it makes an interesting addition to the commercial vehicle technology landscape of the vast country that India is. 

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Prawaas 5.0, an event focused on the public transport industry, concluded on 11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The three-day event marked the 10th anniversary of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI).

The event recorded 20,129 registrations and hosted 227 exhibitors, 20 startups and 120 speakers across 15 sessions. It saw participation from 31 states and union territories, as well as 11 countries.

During the event, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. The first, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI Naari, aims to support the skilling and employment of women as drivers. The second, between Rotary International District 3080 and BOCI, addresses the mental well-being of drivers and road safety.

Prasanna Patwardhan, President of the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), said, "As BOCI completes ten years, Prawaas 5.0 reflects how collaboration, innovation and progressive policymaking are shaping the future of passenger mobility in India. Over the past three days, the exhibition has brought together operators, policymakers, manufacturers, technology providers and entrepreneurs on a common platform to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore solutions for the sector's evolving needs. The participation and enthusiasm witnessed this year reaffirm our collective commitment to building a safer, smarter and more sustainable passenger transport ecosystem that supports the vision of Viksit Bharat."

The Bharat Prawaas Awards 2026 honoured 72 recipients, including 50 BOCI Excellence Awards and 22 redBus People's Choice Awards. The event was organised by BOCI, hosted by the Akhil Gujarat Pravasi Vahan Sanchalak Mahamandal, and curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications.

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UCO Bank for financing solutions.

Through this collaboration, customers will have access to interest rates, loan approvals and processing. The agreement includes loan-to-value funding options and repayment tenures. The partners will coordinate across branches and dealerships to reach customers in urban and rural markets.

Shashikant Kumar, General Manager & Zonal Head – Mumbai, UCO Bank, said, “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Motors Limited marks another significant milestone in UCO Bank’s commitment to delivering innovative and customer centric financing solutions. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to provide seamless, competitive and timely financing for TATA Motors commercial vehicles, enabling entrepreneurs, fleet operators and businesses to expand with confidence.”

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “We are pleased to partner with UCO Bank to further strengthen the financing ecosystem for our commercial vehicle customers. Access to organised and competitive financing is a key enabler for our customers' growth, and UCO Bank's strong nationwide presence makes them an ideal partner in this endeavour. This MoU reinforces our commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions, from world-class vehicles to organised financing that empower our customers to grow their businesses with greater confidence and convenience.”

At present, Tata Motors’ product portfolio ranges from 1-tonne to 55-tonne cargo vehicles and 10-seater to 51-seater mass mobility solutions. The company provides services through its Sampoorna Seva 2.0 initiative, the Fleet Edge platform and a network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints.

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Volvo Buses India, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles, has unveiled the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper coach at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar. It is designed to combine seating and sleeper configurations in a single platform for intercity, tourism and pilgrimage routes.

The 15-metre coach accommodates 51 passengers, featuring 24 upper-deck sleeper berths and 27 lower-deck seats equipped with calf support. It is powered by the Volvo VEDX8 engine and utilises an I-shift transmission. The interior includes an integrated kitchenette, an onboard toilet, mobile charging points and entertainment systems.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “India's bus industry is evolving rapidly, with rising passenger expectations for premium travel experiences and operators seeking higher productivity and operational efficiency. At Volvo Buses India, we continue to shape the future of mobility by combining globally proven engineering with innovations that address evolving needs of the Indian market. The Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper expands our premium coach portfolio with a flexible solution that meets customer expectations for safety, comfort and luxury."

Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice-President – Bus Division, VE Commercial Vehicles, added, "The Volvo 9600 platform has been widely appreciated for setting new standards in luxury, safety and passenger comfort. Building on that success, we are introducing the Volvo 9600 Seater-Sleeper to meet the growing demand for more flexible premium travel solutions. Featuring 24 upper sleeper berths and 27 premium lower-deck seats with calf support, the new coach enables operators to efficiently cater to both short- and long-distance routes while delivering an elevated travel experience for passengers."

The vehicle introduces safety features, including a 360-degree camera system and camera-based electronic rear-view mirrors. It also includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, a driver state monitoring system to detect fatigue and an alcohol interlock system. The coach is equipped with a telematics solution for real-time monitoring of vehicle location, performance and fuel consumption.

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The Prawaas 5.0 exhibition, an event focused on the public transport industry, has opened at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Scheduled from 9–11 July 2026, the exhibition is organised by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) to coincide with its 10th anniversary.

The event, held under the theme ‘Towards Safe, Smart & Sustainable Passenger Mobility,’ brings together manufacturers, technology providers, and operators. Exhibitors include companies such as Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Daimler, JBM, Force Motors, EKA Mobility, Switch Mobility and Sun Mobility, among others.

The exhibition showcases a range of technologies and solutions across the transport value chain, including electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, fleet management systems and digital platforms. The event aims to serve as a platform for industry stakeholders, including fleet owners, state transport undertakings and policymakers, to discuss developments in the sector.

The inauguration was led by Miraben Patel, Mayor of Gandhinagar and Kaushik Jain, MLA of Dariapur. Over the three-day programme, the exhibition will host product launches, conferences and business meetings intended to facilitate collaboration within the passenger transport sector.

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